Bridle-bit



4 R. SEARS.

(No Model.)

BRIDLE BIT.

No. 514,779, Patented Feb. 1s;'1s94.

INVENTQH W/ TNE SSE S:

ATTORNEYS.

U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT SEARS, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

BRlDLE-BIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 514,779, datedFebruary 13, 1894. Application filed September 7, 1893. Serial No. 484,975. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ROBERT SEARS, of N ewark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Attachment for Bridle-Bits, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to bridle attachments for connection of check reins, and has for its object to provide an attachment that may be applied to any ordinary bit, and which will prevent chafing of the horses mouth.

The invention also, which is mainly designed for use in. connection with a chin strap, has for a further object to make the checking action more effective on the chin strap, by supporting the latter nearer the point of the jaw, and also to prevent undue straining of the chin strap or the bit.

The invention consists in the novel features 4 hereinafter particularly described and defined iu the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which the figure is a perspective view of a bridle bit embodying my invention.

The bit proper A may be of any approved form, a leather bit being shown, having ordinary rein ringsB.

The essential feature of the invention consists in the cheek pieces or guards O, which are of disk-like form, and preferably made of leather.v These cheek pieces are formed with two cars or extensions 0 at one side which form an opening or open side recess 0' for receiving the bit, the extensions at their opposed edges approaching each other, so that the outer end of the opening 0' is contracted. The extensions further are formed with aligning eyes, 0 0 for receiving the ends of a chin strap D, or the similar ends of a nose strap. f

I will describe the invention as arranged in connection with a chin strap, as it is mainly designed for use in connection with such a strap.

The extreme ends of the chin strap D are provided with rings at for receiving the ends of the check reins, and the chin strap passes loosely through the eyes so as to move therethrough totighten the chin strap when the horses jaw is lowered. The extensions 0 are at the front of the bit, when the cheek pieces are fitted on the latter, and the openings 0 formed thereby are of such size as will accommodate the bit and permit the cheek pieces to slide on the bit even to the extreme ends if necessary. It will be seen that the extensions support the chin strap in front of the bit, thus maintaining the said strap nearer the point of the jaw, which results in making the checking much more effective. Also, it will seen that the sliding of the chin strap cannot chafe the lips, as the cheek pieces efiectively guard the latter.

The sliding action of the cheek pieces or guards enables them to assume the proper position irrespective of the length of the bit, whereby the chin strap and the bit will be relieved of under strain when the checking action of the chin strap is brought into play.

The improved guards may be applied to any bit, by reason of the open recess and the fact that the ends of the chin strap are separable from such cheek pieces, and the guards may, as stated, receive either a chin strap or nose strap as desired.

Generically, both the nose strap and chin strap are jaw straps.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is p 1. The herein described cheek pieces or guards, the same having extensions at one side forming a bit receiving opening, the said extensions having aligning eyes for receiving a nose or chin strap, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a bit, of check pieces fitted thereon for sliding movement, and a chin strap having its ends passing through the cheek pieces for sliding movement in the latter, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the cheek pieces or guards, the same having extensions provided with eyes, the extensions forming bitreceiving recesses, which recesses open from the edge of the cheek-pieces, of a jaw-strap loosely fitting by its ends in the edges of the cheek pieces, and normally closing the open sides of the recesses, the said strap being detachable from the eyes to permit entrance of the bit to the recesses, substantially as de- I F. W. HANAFORD, EDGAR TATE. 

